The Takeaway: Will Middlebrooks comes through with clutch single

BOSTON — Will Middlebrooks’ most memorable at-bat of 2013 lasted one pitch.

By Tim Britton

BOSTON — Will Middlebrooks’ most memorable at-bat of 2013 lasted one pitch.

It was against the Tigers in September, and Middlebrooks laced a first-pitch slider from Max Scherzer into center for a two-run single in the fifth inning. Boston won the game 2-1.

His most memorable at-bat of 2014 so far concluded with the same result — a sharp single up the middle to score the go-ahead run in Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over the Reds. But the process of how he got there reveals much about Middlebrooks’ continued development as a hitter.

Cincinnati opted to challenge Middlebrooks rather than go after Jackie Bradley, Jr., loading the bases for the third baseman with an intentional walk. As he stepped to the plate, Middlebrooks had two complementary thoughts in his mind — the worst-case scenario for him and the worst-case scenario for right-handed reliever J.J. Hoover.

With the tying run 90 feet away, Middlebrooks didn’t want to hit into a double play.

“I didn’t want to hit a ground ball. If I hit a ground ball, I hit into a double play,” he said. “So I’m looking for something belt-high at least. Anything below that, even if it’s a strike, it’s a good chance I’m hitting into a double play.”

And he knew Hoover wanted to avoid falling behind in the count at all costs, with no place to put Middlebrooks on the bases.

“I knew he wanted to get ahead of me with the heater,” he said. “The last thing he wants to do is get behind.”

Hoover’s first pitch was indeed a fastball, and it was about belt-high at 93. Middlebrooks swung through it.

He then took a curveball high and a fastball away before fouling off another belt-high fastball, this one on the outer half.

Hoover’s 2-2 pitch was critical, and he didn’t execute it. His slider was high, and Middlebrooks passed on it easily. Once it got to 3-2, Middlebrooks knew what was coming.

“Once it was full count, I knew he was going to come right after me e the heater,” Middlebrooks said. “He didn’t want to walk me in that situation.”

He applied the same logic as the first pitch. Look up; live with yourself if he executes it down.

He fouled off one fastball up, then ripped the second one past a diving Zack Cozart for the go-ahead single.

It snapped a 4-for-26 stretch for the third baseman.

“For his own confidence, in that key spot, good to see him come through,” manager John Farrell said.

“The hits haven’t been there the last few days, but my approach has been right where I want it to be,” Middlebrooks said. “I’m swinging at what I want to swing at, taking what I want to take.

“I’m happy with my approach. I’m happy with my plan. I’m happy with all of that. The results weren’t there, the hits weren’t there. That was just timing. That’s all it was.”

The evidence of that approach included a leadoff walk the inning prior against Mike Leake. Middlebrooks has walked seven times in 61 plate appearances — or 11.5 percent of the time. He walked 20 times in 374 plate appearances last year — or 5.3 percent of the time.

“Even though the average might not show it, the quality of at-bats is good,” said Farrell. “He’s not expanding off the plate away.”

It’s obviously still early — “my batting average goes up and down 30 points a game,” Middlebrooks quipped — but it’s an encouraging sign from the third baseman, one that helped bring the Red Sox back to .500 on Wednesday.